Jump to content

Toad_NW3

Regular Member
  • Posts

    74
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Toad_NW3

  1. Hey HTers, Just wanted to update. I'm just over two months out and look pretty much like I did before the HT. I think I'm a little thinner, but my girlfriend and mom say its not true. I did develop some pimples about five weeks out and Dr. Limmer put me on some antibiotics. They help tremendously. I looked at the scar this morning and it is really fading. A bit of a small ridge on the left side of the scar, but I think that is normal for tri-closure. Not much to update, will post some pics soon. All-n-all, a very good expierence so far. Now if only a few months would quickly go by. Toad
  2. Dazed, I'm roughly six weeks out. I'm going through the frumpy stage. I have some pimples, but other than that normal side effect, I have been pleased with Dr. Limmer's work. The expierence was a great one (as far as surgery goes.) I would go back to Dr. Limmer without any doubts. Toad
  3. Hey all, Now at four weeks post-op, I finally finished re-answering all the questions on my blog. Not much to report, which is a good thing. The donor area has settled way down. No more soreness or pain. It's a little numb and tingly. Every once in a while a small peice of internal stitching will work its way out. That is somwhat uncomfortable, like a sore pimple. There is still a slight ridge in one area and a small bump at another point, but it really seems to be healing well. When I pull my hair up to see it, the scar is still red, but the train tracks have faded away. The transplanted area is doing great. I've had a few pimples, and that brings some redness. I think at times when I've been moving (like going for a walk or riding my bike) the transplanted area is a little red. If I remember, this happened last time as well. I have had some slight shock loss. That terms sounds so ominous. What I mean is that there are a few more healthy looking hairs than normal in the shower in the morning, along with some grafts. I can tell I'm a bit thinner than before the procedure, but my girlfriend thinks I"m crazy. Not that I'm an expert, but I think I can tell from the quality of hair that even that hair will grow back. A few of them are "kinked" and my suspecion is these are hairs that got roughed up in the the procedure. I would say that about 50% or so of the grafts have jumped ship. Last time I think they were all gone after two weeks, this time it has been a gradual process. In a way that has been a benefit in and of itself, because it gives me a cosmetic advantage because it keeps the contrast between my scalp and hair from being so deliniated. At four weeks out, I think I look terrific. Can't wait till stuff starts sprouting!!!! Happy growing, Toad
  4. Greg, I agree that Dr. Limmer and his staff's character drive to a degree (skill is obviously there as well) what so far has been a good expierence for me. To update. I posted a from above shot with hair pulled back from day 7. I literally only have a handful of scabs that are visible if I search for them. Pink hue and, of course, a beard of hair. The donor area is still somewhat bothersome. It looks great, but it has some tightness and laying on it hurts. I think last HT I finally felt like I hadn't had the procedure after about two months. I'm starting to forget anything was done at day 8-9 (i'm always confused if you count the day of). Toad
  5. Bill, Thanks for the help getting my blog running again. I think everything should work now (we'll see if I added my blog back in my signature file correctly). Hairtobe, Your blog looks great. Happy growing. Looking forward to watching your progress. I to am very thankful for this forum. Wantego, Thanks for the well wishes. In accordance with your request to keep up, I have updated my blog with my pre and immediate post (including scar and hidden scar pics). I'm a week out and can't believe how clean and well healed I already am. The donor area still bothers me. It's tight on the left and hurts after sleeping or if my neck gets tired. Other than that, I almost forget that I had a HT. It felt so good to do the thorough washing today. Toad (hopefully my signature file will correctly show my blog link!)
  6. Hey Fellow HTers, I recently had my second HT at the Limmer clinic in San Antonio, Tx. I will first start out by stating that I have nothing but good things to say about Dr. Lehr who performed my first HT. Lehr no longer performs HTs and now dedicates his profession to his dermatology practice. I would have gone back to Lehr in a heartbeat if he had not retired from the business. He always told me I was on a two HT plan (he would have also been less expensive ??“ he gave second timers a BIG discount). That being said, I am thrilled at having gone to see Dr. Brad Limmer and have him and his staff place roughly 1300 FUs in the front 1/4 to 1/3 of my scalp. I had previously had roughly 1800 FUs placed in the front 1/3 to 1/2 of my scalp, and I'm expecting great results from this new addition. From my previous HT, I was already pleased in many lights with my hairline (roughly now a NW2 -- i.e. mature hairline) and the seeming thickness of my hair, but some other lights were brutal and certain angles allowed a direct sight to my scalp. I also had two areas near my temples that I was not thrilled with. This procedure was more concentrated on thickening the front and those 'trouble' areas. Note: I was a NW3 and now have totaled more than 3000 FUs between both procedures. I think that is standard. I also personally believe that I benefit from my hairs individually being above average in thickness. I chose Dr. Limmer for a number of reasons. A few would be: he was the first that Dr. Lehr said he would have used if he had needed a HT (the first question I asked Lehr a few years ago before ever having my first HT), he uses similar techniques to Dr. Lehr (stick and place -- I had great results last time, so I trust the method), I know someone who had one from him and looks fantastic, and the Limmer clinic has a stellar reputation. Price was a consideration, but not much of one. Dr. Limmer has an infectious attitude and is very upbeat about life and he exudes confidence (not cocky though) in his work. His entire staff was great and they share that confidence. Despite my affections for Lehr, my experience with Limmer was so much better and I can't really explain why. The night before I was nervous and I barely slept. Even though I had already had a HT before, it is just a little nerve wracking to wait for the day to come. I arrived around 7:00 a.m., filled out the remaining paper work (I live out of town and had previously only corresponded via phone and email). Limmer then took me into a room, discussed my continued use of propecia (and possibly adding rogaine in the future if needed), took some pictures, discussed exactly what I wanted, and then I was given valium because I had expressed feeling nervous about the extraction from the donor area. (as a side note there was a guy there who was having a second day portion of his HT, he told me he had already had the front part done, and I was amazed that I couldn't tell anything had been done the day before --- I didn't get a real good look, nor did I peer a long time, but it does go to show how much more I pay attention to my own scalp than to other's scalps and it put me at ease that I wouldn't look terrible the next week). I was then taken into 'room four' and one of the techs started to prep me for the donor extraction. I never went to sleep (I have a strong resistance to chemicals) but the valium did take the edge off enough that I wasn't totally freaking out. Dr. Limmer shaved the area around my old scar and a little around toward my left ear (so my overall scar is a little longer now, but this extraction is pretty squarely between both ears ??“ slightly left ??“ my old scar goes a bit more over my right ear ??“ this extraction incorporated the lion share of the pre-existing scar between my ears). I was told what was happening at every stage. Someone, I can't remember if Limmer or a tech, vacuumed the area to clear it from clipped hairs and then I was slowly anesthetized (anesthetize was a tech). Many people describe HTs as though they are like dental visits, but I find dental needles in my mouth far more painful. The needles used on the back of my scalp are truly 'just a little pin prick' more akin to a flu shot. You really only feel a few pricks throughout the entire process, possibly one 'whoa, that's a shot' experience. But really, if given the choice between a big shot in the mouth versus in the back of the head, I'll take back of the head any day. I was left for a few minutes to let the medicines take effect, and then Dr. Limmer returned to start the extraction. I think I said this after my last HT, but I'll say it again, there is something creepy and unnerving about the knowledge that someone is cutting a large strip of flesh from the back of your head (roughly 13cm by 1.2 cm if I remember correctly what Dr. Limmer said). Although all I could feel was pressure, hear some noises, and then ultimately recognize the workings of stitches being applied to my head, I'm empathetic and sympathetic, and I just don't like that part. That being said, that portion of the procedure was done very quickly, without any pain whatsoever, and with Limmer's positive attitude just filling the room. Coming from someone who hates that part of the procedure, Limmer did a fantastic job. The techs began immediately to dissect and cut away the individual units. NOTE: I don't think this is weird, but some of you will: Limmer did not count my FUs, I paid a flat rate for a 1250 procedure and he cut for 1300+. I asked him how he counted and he said he measured multiple areas in my donor area, then multiplied the average FU/cm2 by the extraction area and gave additional room for error of 2% loss from the extraction and shot for the 1300+ number to ensure a 1250 procedure. Like many HTers, I feel quite sure I got more than what I paid for. If I have the typical 90-100 cm2 in my donor area, then I probably might have even received more than 1400 FUs. (1.2cm x 13cm x 90 = 1404). Dr. Limmer outlined the hairline (not much work there because I stayed within the previous area). But he wanted to make sure that is what I wanted. After I looked in the mirror, I gave the thumbs up and away the planting went. Anna, a tech who has more than 10+ years experience, came in and started 'sticking and placing.' I won't go into the merits of this technique (I know it's debated around here), but I will say that the Limmers seem to have perfected it. I can't explain why, but I could just tell (and afterwards I was affirmed in my belief by the cleanliness and lack of trauma to my scalp) that the Limmer clinic is far superior at this than even Lehr (who I have great respect for ??“ Lehr was handpicked by Norwood to run his clinic when Norwood retired). There is something to be said for taking a technique that works, and mastering it. The Limmer clinic has done just that IMHO. This was an all day process. I watched movies, took a break for lunch, and then stayed until roughly 4:00 p.m. having the FUs placed. Dr. Limmer was constantly checking on me, joking with me, and making sure whether I had any questions and that I was comfortable. On a few occasions I would explain that I was 'starting to feel' the process. Anna would anesthetize immediately and continue her work. Once after lunch, I started to ache in my donor area. One of the techs re-anesthetized that area. Dr. Limmer also re-anesthetized the area again right before I left. I did feel one of those needles pretty good, but the sting lasted only a few seconds. Toward the end I was getting a bit restless. I didn't ask for anymore valium because it really doesn't have much of an effect on me. One of the things I was most impressed with (see photos) is how clean I was when I left the clinic. I was given saline solution, post-op directions, pain pills, swelling pills, surgical caps, and Dr. Limmer arranged for a cab to take me back to my hotel room. Limmer knew I would be in town the next day and invited me back to get checked on. When I got back to my hotel, I marveled at the cleanliness of the work and what a pleasant experience I had had --- we're talking surgery as a pleasant experience? I used a saline-mist bottle on the hour, every hour (I don't sleep well), to keep the area clean. Limmer recommended sleeping on my back. I did. I had an old towel that I placed on my pillow that had some blood-like ooze on it after the first night. Limmer also prescribes twice-daily Neosporin applications to the donor area for the first week (probably contributed to the ooze). Even though on pain pills, the donor area did hurt more than I remember from my previous HT and I didn't sleep well that night. (my girlfriend says I complained about the donor area last time though). I took Limmer up on his offer to return the next day. He cleaned me again, but I was pretty clean, not much work there. He also re-upped my pain medication (I'm a big baby, O.K., I admit it!) I went back to my hotel and rested. I finally got good sleep the second night. NOTE: I have severe insomnia, so not sleeping I mostly attribute to my own nature and not the procedure. Day three to four I did have some swelling in the face; probably more noticeable to me than to others. The donor area is still tight and sleeping at night irritates it but each day it gets better. Tylenol is my friend. I have only a handful of scabs. I count seven. That is how clean my head is. I had a great experience and will try to keep up on my blog and posts. I'm five days after now and am amazed that I could probably pull off no one knowing without the hat. But I will keep it on when I go out for the first ten days. Limmer told me after ten days it would be hard to tell I had work done. I think he was dead on. I really can't tell if I'm still a bit pink or only have the shadow from the stubble created by the implants. I'll bet the only issue I have at day ten will be the stubble, but I have enough hair from my previous HT to cover the majority of that. If someone is that interested in my hair, I'm about to get laid, paid, or something. ' This forum was the most helpful thing to me when I first started considering a HT and I just want to give back. Kudos to Pat for creating this place and kudos to Dr. Brad Limmer for an outstanding experience. Random thoughts: I don't think my first HT was fully appreciable until 18 months. Recently, I had a friend tell me he was envious of my hair (he doesn't know about my previous HT -- how jealous will he be in the future?). By having this second HT, I have just guaranteed myself extra time this year. The year will creep by now that I'm waiting for the hair to grow. I'd better get a lot done! Toad p.s. I'm having a bit of a problem creating my weblog, so its unvailing may take a bit. (I'm not all that computer savvy).
  7. Hey All, Gotta be quick. dreams - my whole point is hang in there, as Bill said the end result is what matters. I do think as everyone has said you might need/want a second HT, but happiness (the subjective state that it is) may well befall you after about 10 months. Hair quality, expectations, age, surrounding hair thickness, amount of donor hair, etc all come into play. Bill - I did a quick update from the same angles on 8.5 and 10 months - so go check it out! I am so darn busy that I rarely have time for much. The coincidence was I just took 10 month pictures and wanted to see if my account still worked. I'm always interesed in a few people's results (one of which is yours) because you guys were the ones around when I got my HT. Your results are studly by the way! When I get time (I won't predict when that is) I'll take you up on your offer to assist me. I only give top down, but the real money shots are the profiles. Happy growing everyone! Toad
  8. Hey HTers, Just a drive by. I just wanted to share that I'm now 10 months post-op and thrilled with my results from Dr. Lehr. He told me right up front that I would need two HTs. My girlfriend thinks I'm crazy for thinking that in about 6 months I will get a second on. I only hate certain lights now. A direct beem of light from right above is not to flattering from my perspective, but again my girlfriend thinks I'm just a little obsessive/sensitive. I have some new pics to put up but have been extremely busy. I just want dreams4me to know I'm happy. Look at my blog. I had a little less grafts than you. There is still a school of thought that Dr(s) like Lehr and Bernstein subscribe to that two sessions of 2000 grafts will yield better results than one session of 4000. It is just a different school of thought. Also, the incisions probably look larger than what others expect b/c Lehr (and I think Limmer) and some docs use needles to make the incissions rather than blades. I agree that in order to get the full density you will want you will need an additional HT, but I think you will be pleased in about 10 months (I certainly am) at how your face is framed and you have the appearance of hair. Used to I would once in a while have a good hair day, now, once in a while I have a bad hair day mixed in with mostly good hair days. I have more pics and will post some soon, and one day I'll get with Bill to create a montage of my almost 70 pics of my complete journey to date, but dreams4me hang in there. Now comes pimples, shockloss, doubt, etc that is associated with the re-growth, but trust me the year does go by quicker than you think, and I'll bet you will be pretty happy. Dr. Lehr is a good doc. Also, on the idea from Nervous of building up the front. Dr. Lehr believes in density further back and a softer hairline. That way as aging takes place and thinning in areas where propecia (which you absolutely should be on) starts to falter, a natural look overall remains. Just different schools of thought. Dr. Lehr is very conservative. OH, and hello all, sorry for my absence I do check in and read posts from time to time, but rarely have time to do anything but that. This place made my HT so much easier and I appreciate you all!!!! Toad
  9. Nice clean work! I'll be you will be very pleased when stuff starts sproutin. Happy growing, Toad
  10. Just flat awesome for only 11 weeks. I'm very jealous (in the good way ). Took me a good 5 months before that kind of cosmetic difference. Happy Growing! Toad
  11. Yes, good luck NN. I've always been impressed w/ Shapiro's work. Nice choice. Happy healing and growing!
  12. Hey HTers, I know I keep saying I'll be around more, but man am I a busy guy (I know all the finger violins!) I threw up a pictures at 6.5 months on my blog. The hair is starting to come in now. I got a haircut after this photo, and it looks a lot better. But I try to get photos when my hair is the same time period between haircuts as the last (so as to have a better reflection on what is occuring). Even the week that has passed since I took this photo, my hair seems to have more volume and I see some little hairs that I have come to recognize as hairs that will grow. Also, I noticed about two-three weeks ago an itchy faze and a few pimples (small ones) I think this was actually a growth spurt/faze or whatever. I know I keep saying that I will post more photos (and I think photos are where the truth can be told) but I have been so damn busy. I am such a private person, but I'm almost ready to take Bill up on his offer to edit the photos for confidentiality. The profile pics really show the difference. But they also clearly show my true identity (only Robin knows I'm Batman - oh and the butler). Someone emailed me on my blog, which I never check and ran into on accident when uploading this recent photo. Sorry about no response. PM me here and I will be more likely to respond. Happy growing to everyone! Toad
  13. Hey HTers, I know I keep saying I'll be around more, but man am I a busy guy (I know all the finger violins!) I threw up a pictures at 6.5 months on my blog. The hair is starting to come in now. I got a haircut after this photo, and it looks a lot better. But I try to get photos when my hair is the same time period between haircuts as the last (so as to have a better reflection on what is occuring). Even the week that has passed since I took this photo, my hair seems to have more volume and I see some little hairs that I have come to recognize as hairs that will grow. Also, I noticed about two-three weeks ago an itchy faze and a few pimples (small ones) I think this was actually a growth spurt/faze or whatever. I know I keep saying that I will post more photos (and I think photos are where the truth can be told) but I have been so damn busy. I am such a private person, but I'm almost ready to take Bill up on his offer to edit the photos for confidentiality. The profile pics really show the difference. But they also clearly show my true identity (only Robin knows I'm Batman - oh and the butler). Someone emailed me on my blog, which I never check and ran into on accident when uploading this recent photo. Sorry about no response. PM me here and I will be more likely to respond. Happy growing to everyone! Toad
  14. Hey 10 yr out, I too had surgery from Dr. Lehr. I am now about six months out. I am pleased thus far as well. You mentioned being a private person and not wanting to post your pictures on the internet. If I might suggest, you can easily take pictures (look at my blog) that do not identify yourself, but give others a chance to see the work you've had done and to help you analyse what is going on at any given moment. But certainly I recommend you taking pictures for your own personal record keeping. It does me tremendous good each month to look back at the previous months pictures and compare them to notice what changes are occuring and how I look better each given month. Sometimes it is easy to decieve oneself in believing that just yesterday I looked SOOOoooo much better than today. So photographic evidence, even if for your own personal use, is a good thing to have. Also, the next month or so is the most difficult, so encouragement all around! Happy growing! Toad
  15. My recommendation, as I think is many in this forum's would be for you to choose a Dr that can display consistent results and GO to that Dr. Don't let where you live dictate how good of a HT you will get. Look through the list of coalition Dr(s) and do searches on this forum of their work, determine who you would want to do your HT and pay the extra few hundred dollars to fly or drive. Toad
  16. Hairbank, I wouldn't add anything to the swirl on your nose. hehehe I think with 4500 additional grafts you will need to change your name from hairbank to hairmint! I really like the front and side profiles right now, can't wait to see with additional grats. Toad
  17. Thanks Hairbank (I'd like to make a withdrawel please! ) I appreciate you taking the time to assess the work. I only really have Dr(s) or this forum to go by. I think the work was done excellently as well. I have nothing but praise for Dr. Lehr thus far. I will hang in there. But truely appreciate the suport. The rough part of the process is behind me and I encourage anyone who is going through those first few months to hold out hope and not despair. I'm so glad that I did go forward and get the HT. If it hadn't been for the resource of this forumn, I might have never done it, or at a minimum freaked out those first two and a half months! I'll keep the updates coming. Toad
  18. Have you at least called your doctor or emailed him with details? I would do that. I never had any thing even close to the size of half a dime on my donor area. I would absolutely call my Dr. Toad
  19. Hey Bill, I've been following your progress. Very impressive! Especially from the front on view. Hasson does very nice work. Did you get a chance to look at my blog? I do have pics of other angels, but the pics I posted are the ones that keep me anonymous. I still have to doctor the other ones, but like I said work has been crazy. I notice from my 5 month pictures at my blog that you can clearly see what I do - which is my right side is growing in faster than my left. But at the same time the left sometimes looks thicker. If I run my hand over my head slowly in the mirror I can see lots of little transparent hairs. That is very exciting. Happy growing! Toad
  20. Hey HTers, Sorry for my absense the past two months. I've been slammed busy. It is actually a good thing to be pre-occupied whie the HT starts to grow in. I updated my blog with pics from months 2, 3, and 5 (the 4s got eaten by a giant purple troll - no really). I should be coming out of "hiding" in the next few weeks. We had major changes at work. The good news was b/c we were putting in such odd hours, hats were the norm! Anyway, at a little over 5 months now I'm starting to see some real difference. If I'm at 45% or so of growing then I think I will be thrilled by the 1-yr mark. Dr. Lehr told me that the average to see significant growth was 6 months, but the real judge of the procedure shouldn't be done for one year. I've read lots of places (H&W, Baldingblog, etc) that 8 months is where the money is! I have never wanted to age another year so quickly in my life. I'll try not to be so scarce. Toad
  21. Hey HTers, Sorry for my absense the past two months. I've been slammed busy. It is actually a good thing to be pre-occupied whie the HT starts to grow in. I updated my blog with pics from months 2, 3, and 5 (the 4s got eaten by a giant purple troll - no really). I should be coming out of "hiding" in the next few weeks. We had major changes at work. The good news was b/c we were putting in such odd hours, hats were the norm! Anyway, at a little over 5 months now I'm starting to see some real difference. If I'm at 45% or so of growing then I think I will be thrilled by the 1-yr mark. Dr. Lehr told me that the average to see significant growth was 6 months, but the real judge of the procedure shouldn't be done for one year. I've read lots of places (H&W, Baldingblog, etc) that 8 months is where the money is! I have never wanted to age another year so quickly in my life. I'll try not to be so scarce. Toad
  22. Hey HB and Bill, I do have photos, but as always, I am currently slammed. I will try to get them up early next week and at least put same perspective from month two and three on my blog. Just was kind of thrilled about the "illusion" of having more hair. Will post soon. Toad
  23. Hey all HTers, I am now into week 13. I have been doing a bit of a comb foreward\over to cover effects and shockloss. To help conceal this I use a touch of Toppik. Saturday my gf and I were getting ready to go out to dinner w/ friends and I blowdried and combed my hair. I went and asked her how it looked (which I always do before throwing on the hair spray) and she said "yep, it looks good!" I then said, "no Toppik yet!" She replied "really!?! Wow." Now some of this could be b/c my hair in back is longer and helping with the combover/forward. But I think it goes to show even early signs of growth have cosmetic effects. I have a ton of transparent hairs which started around week 8 and have now become longer but yet to delelop much color. My pimples have started slowing down. I'm down to one or two a day as opposed to 4-5. I have more pictures (again always busy, blah, blah, sorry). I will take more next week at my 3-month anniversary. The time really did fly by even though it is nerve racking as hell at times. Can't wait for the next three months to fly by!! Toad
  24. Hey all HTers, I am now into week 13. I have been doing a bit of a comb foreward\over to cover effects and shockloss. To help conceal this I use a touch of Toppik. Saturday my gf and I were getting ready to go out to dinner w/ friends and I blowdried and combed my hair. I went and asked her how it looked (which I always do before throwing on the hair spray) and she said "yep, it looks good!" I then said, "no Toppik yet!" She replied "really!?! Wow." Now some of this could be b/c my hair in back is longer and helping with the combover/forward. But I think it goes to show even early signs of growth have cosmetic effects. I have a ton of transparent hairs which started around week 8 and have now become longer but yet to delelop much color. My pimples have started slowing down. I'm down to one or two a day as opposed to 4-5. I have more pictures (again always busy, blah, blah, sorry). I will take more next week at my 3-month anniversary. The time really did fly by even though it is nerve racking as hell at times. Can't wait for the next three months to fly by!! Toad
  25. Cheerio Neptune. Happy healing and growing. Don't forget about the "search" function on this forum. hahahahaha. Myself, I was searching about something everyday for the first few weeks. (i.e. "Is my hair supposed to look different when wet?" ) Toad
×
×
  • Create New...